ASBOG Practice Exam

Which period follows the Jurassic period in chronological order?

1. Tertiary

2. Cretaceous

3. Triassic

4. Pleistocene

The correct answer is: Cretaceous

The Cretaceous period follows the Jurassic period in the geological time scale. The Mesozoic Era is divided into three major periods: Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. The Cretaceous period is characterized by significant geological and biological developments, including the diversification of dinosaurs and the appearance of flowering plants. It spans from approximately 145 million to 66 million years ago, concluding with the mass extinction event that wiped out many species, including most dinosaurs. In this sequence, the Triassic period precedes the Jurassic, and the Tertiary period, which is part of the Cenozoic Era, occurs after the Cretaceous. The Pleistocene is a much later geological epoch that comes after the Tertiary, further emphasizing the chronology in which the Cretaceous period directly follows the Jurassic. Thus, the correct identification of the Cretaceous as the period that comes after the Jurassic illustrates an understanding of the chronological progression of geologic time.